Description
For this project I was interested in learning some basic 3D animation techniques. Creating a 3D cityscape in Illustrator and After Effects was both an approachable method for learning these techniques and fit with the themes of trauma and memory I wanted the piece to reflect on. I chose to alternate between color and grayscale to capture the sense of living in two timelines of present and past memory.
Creative Process
I began the brainstorming process for this piece thinking about what sort of styles and techniques I was excited to try working with. I knew I wanted to try using some 3D components in addition to exploring adding patterns/textures to surfaces and using both grayscale and color in the piece. I spent a lot of time in the beginning watching YouTube tutorials to learn how to create a 3D cityscape. I chose to render the 3D buildings in Illustrator and then import and arrange them in After Effects.
As I began manipulating the camera in After Effects to travel through the city, I quickly realized that I needed to create a map for myself so that I wouldn’t get lost while zoomed in. I took a picture of the arial view with my phone and tracked my location as I went.
Later as I added the 2D elements at the beginning and end of the animation, I learned how to use a track matte. This allowed me to make the figure at the beginning of the animation appear from behind a building even though it was a flat layer on top of the 3D buildings.
Annotated Bibliography
Christopher Nolan. Memento. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJp6FMKSQF4.
- I was inspired to alternate between color and grayscale scenes to represent different timelines of past and present memories from the way Nolan uses this technique in the film Memento.
EnzoGarro. “How To Make A 3d City In After Effects Tutorial.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZw1YAuKqX0.
- I used this tutorial when learning how to arrange the buildings in my city once I imported them into After Effects.
Michael Tanzillo. “Creating 3D Models with Adobe Illustrator.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb3NgsSsROc&t=138s.
- This video tutorial was especially helpful as I was learning to create the 3D buildings in Illustrator.
Nora Twomey. The Secret of Kells. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMPhHTtKZ8Q.
- I like the way Twomey’s animation in this movie includes pattern to give things texture, and I tried to create a similar effect with the patterns I added to the building surfaces.
Smertimba Graphics. “How to Make Videos Black And White in After Effects.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r040fKLHtLM.
- I used this tutorial to learn how to alternate between color scenes and black and white.
Storror. Roof Culture Asia. https://storrorplus.storror.com/programs/rca.
- Some of the camera shots of cityscapes in this film inspired me to try moving a camera through a 3D city.
